This is very interesting. It seems that Celestion has an answer to your 100W single speaker application. G12H-150 Red Back. Oh crap, now I have to get one to try it out. Looks like a EV clone based on the response curve. Very tempting.....

I did not indicate origin of manufacture. I did see an unboxing video on you-tube regarding the Celestion Cream Alnico and the RedBack. Person indicated both were made in England. I have the Celestion Cream Alnico 90W as well as several of the Creambacks, all of them were made in UK.

So far this is the only video on the redback I have found that identifies what speaker is used. I have seen a few others but they did not reference in the video if it was the Cream or Redback. Not sure how many speakers made be Celestion in the past that had the 2 inch voice coil but so far it sounds good once you get past the intro parts in the video. Well I guess there is the G12T hot 100. Seems that the rest are of the 1.75" VC variety.

From the video I saw, it sounds like a V30 blended with a Creamback, also similar to the Crème 90W Alnico.
Would be interested in feedback on the Redback once you get it. I am considering a pair for my RA100 if not in that something else.

The speaker should be here in a week or two. I'll post some initial feedback after I install it and then later after I break it in. I've been looking for an alternative to the Mesa MS-12 and MC-90 speakers. I have a couple of EVM12L's which I like for cleans, not so much for overdrive.

Installed the Redback last night in a vintage Boogie 1x12 open back cab. So far so good. I tried it with a Les Paul and Strat HSS thru the Mark V 25 and one of my HR's. It's very balanced and has smooth highs. I pushed it with the HR and it just sounded better the louder it got. I think I might have finally found a replacement for the MS-12 speaker.

Last edited by xdg999 on Fri Jun 09, 2017 6:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

Update, I ordered one to start with. Going to stuff it in the Mark V combo. I think the EV sounds better in the 412 cab. I have 6 of them actually. 4 that have the EV logo on the dust cap, two that do not. All Black Label speakers. Figured I would give the RedBack a try and if it would out in the Combo I may consider something else to upgrade.

I'm interested in seeing what you think about the Redback. I converted my upgraded c+ HR today to a combo with an MS-12 speaker so I could ship the DRG to Mesa in a headshell. The Redback sounds really good combined with the MS-12. The EVM12L that came with the new DRG actually sounds really nice, I like it better than the other 2 EV's I have. I might have to try it with the Redback.

I will probably get it by Wednesday. Should be easy to get it into the Mark V. So far may favorite speaker for the Mark V was the Celestion Crème 90W Alnico. Too bad I cooked it with the JP-2C and to do more damage, when I hooked it back on the Mark V, the FX loop send was maxed out which allowed for a higher than typical output. Sounded great for a while but started to get the burnt smell. Once you smell it, too late I will have to try it again as it may have just been the paint on the bell burning off as that sucker was hot to the touch. The Ceramics seem to remain cooler than the rare earth magnets. Even the Neodymium magnets got hot with heavy use. I have an Emminence Tonker Light that I tried a while back. Smoked that one too just after I cooked up a WGS Black Hawk HP with the Mark IV combo. One reason I sold the Mark IV as it ate speakers easily. Only speaker I could find that would survive the abuse was a FANE Studio 12L. Similar and different than the EV. I like the EV a bit more in a closed back cabinet. Not so happy with it in the combo as much. The Celestion Crème 90W Alnico was the winner for that application. Jensen BlackBird Alnico was ideal for a clean amp though, clean channel on the Mark V never sounded better with that Jet series speaker but it struggled with the high gain channels a bit. Took a long time to break that speaker in. Then I punched a hole in the web when I was swapping speakers out. oops..

Not sure what to expect with the Redback.. What is the tone like? At least I am starting off with just one. What type of gasket is used on it, foam, rubber cork or waxed paper? (yes, I did say waxed paper as this is what is used on the Crème, similar to the thick paper gasket on the EV).

I would describe the tone as full and detailed with little coloration but not sterile like the EV's. I just tried it with the Mini Rec. The cleans were chimey with no ice pick and the vintage/modern didn't have any fizz.